Automatic signaling device



5 5 9 Md m 0 Tn E 00, N N E 5 R 3 Vh w m 5 W216 T 1 w u A JJM J BULE W|CH ET AL AUTOMATIC SIGNALING DEVICE Filed Sept. 27, 1921 April 14, 1925.

Patented Apr. 14, J I I PATENT. OFFICE.

JOSEPH BULEWICE, 01E PALMER, AND JOHN NOS ARZEWSKI, OF GHICOPEE, MASSA- CHUSETTS.

AUTOMATIC SIGNALING nnvrcn. 2

Application filed September improvements in signaling devices and isparticularly adapted for use at intersecting points or highways and is adapted to be automatically operated by a vehicle such as an automobile traveling over the highway.

The object of the invention is to providea device of the above class which will be so constructed, positioned and connected as to be automatically operated by approaching vehicles, and so as to warn other traflic approaching on the intersecting road, in a way to prevent collisions.

In the diagrammatical view ings, we have shown the signal post located central and intermediate of the four corners of the intersecting streets so as to be readily seen from either direction, but this particular location is not essential and may be changed if desired to better meet the particular conditions of the intersecting streets where it is to be located.

The device is designed to be operated in part by an electric motor which may be continuously driven from any convenient source. The signal mechanism is further connected to be tripped and set for operation by the motor with suitable contacting devices located in the roadway distant from the signaling device and positioned to be engaged and operated by the automobiles passing thereover.

With these and other objects in view the invention resides and consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanaying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departure from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

of the drawa, 1921. SerialfNo. 503,531.

i or corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and upon which, 7

Fig. 1 shows a diagrammatical view of two intersecting highways crossing each other at substantially right angles and equipped with our improved signaling device; Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation of an electric contacting device designed to be set 'in the roadway and operated by automobiles passing thereover;

Fig. 3 is a vertical elevation taken through the signal post and operating mechanism contained therein;

Fig. 4 is a further sectional elevation through said post and mechanism and taken at a right angle to Fig. 3; l

Fig. 5 is a detail of some of the operative parts shown in Fig. 4, but as'seen in a diflerent position;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 6 6 of Fig.- 3; and Fig. is a wiring diagram for the device.

Referring ,in detail to the characters of reference marked upon the drawing. A represents a signal post, and B contacting devices positioned in the right side of the roadways and connected by the wires 02 and y to the releasing devices of the signal mechanism for operation by 'the motor.

The contacting device as illustrated comprises a sleeper 5 which may be of wood or other suitable materialof suflicient length to extend across half of the roadway. and as shown is intrenched below the surface of the roadway and provided with a metal contact plate 6 to which the wire-y isconnected. The upper rail 8 which is of equal length with the sleeper is positioned immediately above it and is supported thereon throuqh springs 9 seated around pins 10 carried by the rail. the free ends of said pins being guided in sockets 11 of the sleeper. This rail is also provided with a contact plate 12 to which the wire a: is connected. The construction thus described will serve to cause the contact plate 12 to engage the lower plate 6, to close a circuit. when the upper rail is struck and shoved down by a passing automobile. 'Said rail is immediately raised by the springs as soon 'as the automobile passes over it, The several contact ng devices B and G as shown in Fig. 1 are alike in ,,one pair of signal arms while the two indicated by C located in the crossing road are connected to operate the other pair of arms.

-The signal post includes two sets of signals, one for each street and as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 includes duplicate mechanisms, each comprising a pair of signal arms, located in opposite sides of the post and adapted to be similarly operated. Each pair is operated independent of the other pair and r is adapted to be extended out from the post at a right angle to the other pair of arms. 13 represents-a motor positioned in the base of the post. and is preferably connected to be continuously operated in a way to drive the gear 14 upon the crank shaft 15 journalled in the side walls of the signal post. A bridge piece 16 extends across the inside of the post and has its opposite ends secured to the opposite side portion of the post and serves to support the guide tube 17 and 18 through which the reciprocatory rods 19 and 20 are operatively mounted. A hook 21 is pivoted to the lower end of the rod 19 while the other rod 20 is provided with a similar hook 22. The hook end of the member 21 being adapted for engagement by the crank member 23 while the hook end of the member 22 may be also positioned for engagement by the crank 24 as will later be 5 explained.

The lower ends of the links 25 are pivotally connected to the upper end of the rod 19 and the upper ends of said links are similarly connected to the short ends of the signal arm 26 that are pivoted at 27 to the signal post. A spring 28, one end of which is attached to the top end of the post and the other end to the reciprocatory rod serves to normally hold the rod in its uppermost position which insures the lowermost position of the signal arms within the slots 29 of the side of the post. As will be seen the mechanism connecting the rod 20 and the pair of arms 30 is substantially the sanie as that shown and described for the manipulation of the arms 26 and includes links 31 and a spring 32,.the said arms 30 being positioned in the opposite sides of the post and connected to be raised and lowered in a vertical plane and at a right angleto the arms 26 before mentioned.

The two hooks as well as these connected operative parts including the two sets of signal arms are alike in construction and operate entirely independent of each other. This is also true of the pawl and latch mechanism for holding the hooks out of operative positions and therefore one description and set of reference numerals will be used for the two sets. These hooks 21 and 22 when idly hanging from their pivotal connection with the reciprocatory slide rods, assume a vertical central position, to be engaged by their respective cranks 23 and 24, see Fig. 5, so that one half turn of the crank will engage one hook and operate one pair of the signal arms, slide rod and connecting parts, and also cause the arm 33 of the slide rod to engage and draw down the free endof the pivoted member. 34 which is pivoted at 35 to the inside of the signal post. A spring latch 36 also secured to the' inside of the post serves to engage and hold the pivoted member 34 down against the action of the spring 37 and in position so that the fingers 38 carried on the hook will engage the latch when the hook is released. This hook automatically disengages fromthe crank when the latter returns to its uppermost position and is shoved to one side by the engagement of its fingers 38 with the latch which obviously has previously been drawn down and positioned as indicated in Fig. 4, by the downward operation of the hook and crank. This hook is released from position shown in Fig. 4, for engagement by the crank shaft, by the withdrawal of the latch 36, which is made possible by the magnet 39 when the circuit is closed, by the operation of the contact-rail.

From the foregoing it will be seen that if an automobile approaches in either direction on the main highway and crosses the contact B, it will close the circuit, through the contacts 6 and 12, and thewires w and 52 including the battery 40,- in a manner to energize the magnet 39 so as to attract the free end of .the latch 36, thus releasing the pivoted member 34. When the hook is released it drops back in position to; be engaged and operated-by the crank. Power is thus applied from the continuously operated motor through which the crank, hooks and slide rods the arms 30 would be operated to show to the approaching traflic on the cross road that the traflic on the main and means for restoring said holding means to normal position on movement of said operating means to non-signaling position.

2, In a which signal, a. support, a signal,

means mounting the signal on the support providing for movement from non-signaling position to signaling position, means for operating the signal from one position to the other including a continuously rotating member, disengageable means for connecting the rotating member with the signal. a pawl and latch means for normally holding said disengageable means out of connection with the rotatable member, means for releasing the latch means from the pawl, and means for restoring said latch means and pawl to normal position on movement of said operating means to non-signaling position.

3. In a vehicle signal. a support mounted at the intersection of two roadways, two signals. means mounting each of said signals on said support for visibility from one of the roadways respectively and providing for movements from non-signaling position to signaling position, means for selectively op erating the signals from one position to the other including a continuously rotating member, a pair of disengageable means for connecting the rotating member with the respective signals, a pair of means for normally holding said means out of engagement with the rotating member, a pair of means for releasing the holding means, means in each roadway operable my passing automobiles for operating the releasing means for the signal visible from the other roadway, and means for restoring the holding means of each signal to normal position on movement of said operating means to nonsignaling position.

4. In a vehicle signal, a support mounted at the intersection of two roadways, a signal, means mounting said signal on said support for visibility from one of the roadways, and providing for movement from non-signaling position to signaling position, means for operating the signal from one position to the other including a continuously rotating member, disengageable means for connecting the rotating member with the signal, means for normally holding said means out of engagement with said rotating member,

means for releasing the holding means,

means in the other roadway operable by passing automobiles for operating the releasing means, and means for restoring the holding means to normal position on movement of said operating means to non-signalin position.

@igned at Bridgeport in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut this 17th day of September, A. D., 1921.

JOSEPH BULEWICH. JOHN NOSARZEWSKI. Witnesses:

STANLEY H. GRo'rKowsKI, 'LILLIAN W. ALLING. 

